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"An Informed Choice": what a lovely and ironic title, because of course the choice is anything but informed.

The Conclusion:"I have always been interested in religion in that way, in the way that railroad buffs are interested in trains. I am a hopeless high church junkie. And I am a Christian because I just plain like religion."

I love the conclusion: it makes more sense than most reasons that I've heard or read. And, best of all, I think people who have this attitude are far less likely to use sword, gun, bomb, or force of law to force their beliefs on others than those who are convinced of the righteousness and sanctity of their cause.

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While talking about my favorite books with my wife, she pointed out the the conjunction of James Joyce and Lewis Carroll was not nearly so unlikely as it might seem with only a moment's consideration. In fact, it makes a great deal of sense. The playfulness that I love in Ulysses (and even more in Finnegans Wake) is already present in Carroll as a kind of verbal surrealism. "It's a poor sort of memory that works only backwards." But most particularly in the dialogue of Humpty Dumpty and Alice, in which Humpty explains:

from Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

Lewis Carroll

`Certainly,' said Alice.

`And only ONE for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!'

I post this because whenever I recommend to anyone the Queen of Night, I always recommend it in the Lucia Popp rendition. It's a matter of personal taste, but what I love about this is that it is somewhat slower than the other versions and as a result, it would seem to me somewhat more difficult to perform and sustain--those high notes in which the Queen's voice becomes the Magic Flute itself are rounded, full, and deep while remaining light and airy. I have read some rather severe criticism of this ritardando; and while it may or may not reflect Mozart's intent, it is certainly within the options for staging. It creates a real vocal showpiece from what is already a magnificent example of same. It really is an amazing example of a virtuoso composition sung by a virtuoso voice. All of which should not be taken to mean that I do not truly appreciate the version posted earlier by Diana Damrau, it's just nice to see what a difference tempo can make.